Modular system for interchanging components of clothing

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for selectively attaching and detaching removable portions of an article of clothing to provide long and short options for the article of clothing. In particular, the present invention provides a magnetic connection between a circular opening of an article of clothing and a circular opening of a removable portion of the article of clothing.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/938,790, filed Nov. 21, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various articles of clothing have long and short options. For example, clothing for covering a user's legs may include long options, such as pants, leggings or a long skirt, or may include shorter options, such as shorts, culottes, gauchos, skorts, short skirts, and the like. Clothing for covering a user's arms may include long options, such as long-sleeved shirts, or may include shorter options, such as short-sleeved shirts, sleeve-less shirts, tanktops, and the like. In many instances, a user may desire to have both long and short options of an article of clothing, without being required to purchase long and short versions of the article of clothing. Various solutions currently exist which are designed to meet such needs. For example, various options exist for attaching and detaching lower-leg portions of pants, such as by a zipper or hook and loop fastener. In some instances, excess lengths of an article of clothing may be gathered and retained in a retracted, shortened position by a tieback or similar fastener. Sleeves of jackets and other upper-body articles of clothing may similarly be removed and attached by zippers, buttons and/or hook and loop fasteners to provide long and short forms for the article of clothing. In each of these instances, the fastener by which the removable portion is coupled to the clothing is visible or otherwise detectable to the user when the removable portion is removed. In many instances, the process by which the fastener is accessed and used to connect the removable portion to the article of clothing requires heightened dexterity by the user, sometimes requiring that the clothing item be removed prior to attaching or detaching the removable portion. In some instances, the process of fastening the removable portion may require third-party assistance. Thus, while systems and methods for providing long and short options for clothing currently exist, challenges remain. The present invention meets and overcomes these challenges.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to systems and methods for selectively attaching and detaching removable portions of an article of clothing to provide long and short options for the article of clothing. In particular, the present invention provides a magnetic connection between a circular opening of an article of clothing and a circular opening of a removable portion of the article of clothing. The present invention further provides methods for customizing an article of clothing by selectively removing and replacing a first removable portion of an article of clothing with a second removable portion of an article of clothing, wherein the second removable portion is visibly and/or structurally different than the first removable portion.

In a first aspect of the invention, a modular system for interchanging components of a clothing item is provided, wherein the system comprises a clothing item having a first magnet disposed at an edge of the clothing item, and a removable portion having a second magnet disposed at an edge of the removable portion, wherein the first and second magnets are configured to provide an abutted interface between the clothing item and the removable portion. In some instances, the modular system further comprises a second removable portion having ⅓ magnet disposed in an edge of the second removable portion, wherein the first and third magnets are configured to provide an abutted interface between the clothing item and the second removable portion. In some instances, a second removable portion comprises a physical attribute that is different from the removable portion. In some instances, a physical attribute is selected from the group consisting of a color, a dimension, a material, a graphical design, and a function. In some instances, a first magnet comprises a plurality of first magnets, and a second magnet comprises a plurality of second magnets. In some instances, an edge of a clothing item is a circular opening and an edge of the removable portion is a circular opening, wherein the diameters of both circular openings is approximately equal. In some instances, a polarity of the first magnet is opposite a polarity of the second magnet such that the first and second magnets are attracted to one another.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the manner in which the above-recited and other features and advantages of the invention are obtained will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. These drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to limit the scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 depicts cooling and heating functions of an article of clothing having a removable portion in accordance with a representative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts an article of clothing having a removable portion coupled to the body of the article of clothing in accordance with a representative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 depicts an article of clothing showing a removable portion separated from the body of the article of clothing in accordance with a representative embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view demonstrating a magnetic interaction between the body of an article of clothing and a removable portion of the article of clothing in accordance with a representative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The presently preferred embodiments of the present invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as claimed, but is merely representative of presently preferred embodiments of the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an article of clothing or clothing item 10 is shown having a removable portion 20 shown in a removed configuration. Clothing item 10 may include any article of clothing having a portion which may be removed to provide a shortened configuration of the clothing item. Non-limiting examples of clothing item 10 include shirts, pants, dresses, skirts, jackets, sweaters, hoodies, ponchos, pajamas, nightgowns, shorts, culottes, gouchos, and the like. Removable portion 20 may include any portion of the clothing item 10 that may be removed to provide a shortened configuration of clothing item 10. Non-limiting examples of removable portion 20 include sleeves, pant legs, hems, cuffs, collars, liners, and the like.

In some embodiments, removal of removable portion 20 from clothing item 10 may assist in regulating the body temperature of the user. For example, in instances where a user feels overheated while wearing clothing item 10, the user may remove removable portion 20 to decrease their perception of heat while wearing clothing item 10. In instances where a user feels cold while wearing clothing item 10, the user may attached removable portion 20 to increase their perception of heat while wearing clothing item 10.

In some embodiments, an abutment interface may be provided between two articles of clothing where it is desirable to close a gap between the two articles of clothing. For example, a first article of clothing may comprise a jacket having a sleeve having a sleeve cuff, and a second article of clothing may comprise a glove having a glove cuff, wherein a gap or space between the sleeve cuff and the glove cuff is closed through an abutted interface of the present invention formed between the two cuffs. In another example, a first article of clothing may comprise a pair of pants having a leg cuff, and a second article of clothing may comprise a shoe having a foot opening, wherein a gap or space between the leg cuff and the foot opening is closed through an abutted interface of the present invention formed between the leg cuff and the foot opening.

Removable portion 20 may further be attached or removed from clothing item 10 to accommodate a function of clothing item 10. For example, in some instances removable portion 10 may be attached to clothing item 10 to provide protection to the user, such as to prevent sun exposure, or other undesirable exposure while wearing clothing item 10. An inverse benefit may be obtained by removing removable portion 20 from clothing item 10, as may be desired.

Removable portion 20 may further be attached or removed from clothing item 10 to achieve a desired aesthetic appearance for clothing item 10. For example, in some instances removable portion 10 may be attached to clothing item 10 to cover a greater percentage of the user's body. An inverse benefit may be obtained by removing removable portion 20 from clothing item 10, as may be desired. In some instances, a first removable portion 20 is removed and replaced with a second removable portion 22, wherein the second removable portion is different than the first removable portion 20. In some instances, the second removable portion 22 is different from clothing item 10. For example, in some instances second removable portion 22 comprising coloring and/or a pattern that is distinct from clothing item 10 and first removable portion 20. In some instances, second removable portion 22 comprises a material that is distinct from at least one of clothing item 10 and first removable portion 20. In some embodiments, second removable portion 22 comprises a functionality that is distinct from a functionality of the first removable portion 20. For example, in some embodiments second removable portion 22 comprises a dimension that is different than first removable portion 20, such as length, diameter, girth, etc. In some embodiments, second removable portion 22 comprises a material that is different than first removable portion 20, such as a moisture wicking material, a reflective material, a thermally insulative material, a cooling material, and the like. In some embodiments, second removable portion 22 comprises wearable tech that is not present in the first removable portion 20, such as biosensors or other sensors or hardware for use with a smart device.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a clothing item 10 is shown having a removable portion 20 attached thereto via an abutted interface. In many instances, an interface between clothing item 10 and removable portion 20 is configured to provide an appearance resembling a seam or other fabric structure between the two components. Thus, the interface merely appears as a natural feature of the clothing item 10, and is not readily detectable as an interface between the two components. In some instances, an interface between clothing item 10 and removable portion 20 is configured to resemble a clothing hem, or a pair of abutted clothing hems. In some embodiments, an interface between clothing item 10 and removable portion 20 is further obscured or concealed by a fabric extension or flap of clothing item 10.

In some embodiments, a portion of clothing item 10 may include multiple abutted interfaces to provide three or more desired lengths. For example, where clothing item 10 is a sleeveless shirt, an armhole of the sleeveless shirt may include an abutted interface configured to receive a long sleeve having two or more abutted interfaces to provide options for attaining a medium sleeve or a short sleeve by removing one or two of the portions of the long sleeve defined by the two or more abutted interfaces. In another example, clothing item 10 is a dress having two or more abutted interfaces to provide options for attaining a midcalf length, a kneelength, and a midthigh length dress by removing one or two of the portions of the dress defined by the two or more abutted interfaces. In either of these examples, a user may modify the aesthetics of the clothing item by interchanging one or more portions of the clothing item 10 with a secondary portion having an aesthetic that is distinct from an aesthetic of the original portion of the clothing item. In this way, a user may modify the dimensions and/or the aesthetic appearance of the clothing item 10.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a clothing item 10 is shown having a removable portion 20 removed therefrom. When the removable portion 20 is removed from clothing item 10, the abutting surface of clothing item 10 merely appears as a normal clothing structure (i.e., a hemmed cuff of a sleeve).

Referring now to FIG. 4, a representative abutted interface 40 between clothing item 10 and removable portion 20 is shown. In some embodiments, the clothing item portion of abutted interface 40 comprises a plurality of magnets 50 arranged at the edge 14 of clothing item 10 such that the polarity of the magnets is arranged to compatibly connect with opposing magnets 60 arranged at the edge 24 of removable portion 20. In some embodiments, the magnets are inserted within or otherwise adhered to a hemmed edge of the clothing item 10 and/or removable portion 20. For example, the magnets may be inserted into a material configured to retain a desired spacing between the magnets, such as a heat shrink fabric or polymer tube material. The magnets and material may be secured to the clothing item 10 and removable portion 20 by any compatible means, including but not limited to stitching, an adhesive, an interference fit, stitch witchery, or combinations thereof. In other embodiments, the magnets are sewn directly into the material of clothing item 10 and/or removable portion 20. In some instances, a butted magnetic connection is provided at distalmost edges 14 and 24 such that the abutment interface prevents any overlap between edge 14 of clothing item and edge 24 of removable portion 20. In some instances, a butted magnetic connection is provided in proximity to distalmost edges 14 and 24 such that the abutment interface permits minimal overlap between edge 14 of clothing item and edge 24 of removable portion 20. In some embodiments, the butted configuration of the magnetic connection provides a secure connection between the clothing item 10 and the removable portion 20, while minimizing undesired bulk that may occurs with other types and forms of connections.

The present invention further comprises various methods for modifying a clothing item by selectively removing and/or attaching a removable portion of the clothing item. In some methods, a user first selects a desired clothing item. The user then selects a removable portion. The user modifies the clothing item by attaching the removable portion to the clothing item. If the clothing item already has a first removable portion coupled thereto, the user removes the first removable portion prior to attaching a second removable portion to the clothing item.

One of skill in the art will appreciate that the various features and elements of the various embodiments of the present invention may be modified and/or combined within the spirit of the present invention to provide a clothing item and/or a removable portion configured for use with a clothing item. For example, the size, dimensions, shapes, proportions, colors, designs and materials of a removable item of the present invention may be modified as desired or necessary based on, for example, a user's desires and/or a structural requirement of user and/or a clothing item.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its structures, methods, or other essential characteristics as broadly described herein and claimed hereinafter. Therefore, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A modular system for interchanging components of a clothing item, said system comprising: a clothing item having a first magnet disposed at an edge of the clothing item; and a removable portion having a second magnet disposed at an edge of the removable portion, wherein the first and second magnets are configured to provide an abutted interface between the clothing item and the removable portion.
 2. The modular system of claim 1, further comprising a second removable portion having a third magnet disposed at an edge of the second removable portion, wherein the first and third magnets are configured to provide an abutted interface between the clothing item and the second removable portion.
 3. The modular system of claim 2, wherein the second removable portion comprises a physical attribute that is distinct from the removable portion.
 4. The modular system of claim 3, wherein the physical attribute is selected from the group consisting of a color, a dimension, a material, a graphical design, and a function.
 5. The modular system of claim 1, wherein the first magnet comprises a plurality of first magnets, and wherein the second magnet comprises a plurality of second magnets.
 6. The modular system of claim 1, wherein the edge of the clothing item is a circular opening.
 7. The modular system of claim 6, wherein the edge of the removable portion is a circular opening having a diameter that is approximately equal to the circular opening of the clothing item.
 8. The modular system of claim 1, wherein a polarity of the first magnet is opposite a polarity of the second magnet.
 9. The modular system of claim 1, wherein the abutted interface prevents an overlap of the clothing item and the removable portion at the abutted interface.
 10. The modular system of claim 1, wherein the abutted interface closes a gap between the clothing item and the removable portion.
 11. Modular system of claim 1, wherein the clothing item is a first article of clothing, and the removable portion is a second article of clothing.
 12. The modular system of claim 11, wherein the abutted interface closes a gap between the first article of clothing and the second article of clothing. 